Educating the public about raptors is a big part of what we do!

RCV presentations

RCV education presentations utilize the display of live, non-releasable raptors to inform children and adults about native wildlife, preservation of habitat, and respect for our wild neighbors. Slides may be used to enhance the presentation or increase audience awareness. Raptor biology is a main focus, although the subject matter will vary depending on the audience background, age and interests. We have found that allowing people to see some of our native raptors up close helps increase both appreciation of these wonderful birds and understanding of their place in the wild.

We discuss the work involved in caring for RCV's resident birds. Throughout our programs we stress our close connection with nature and the need for humans to responsibly manage natural resources, including wildlife. We will work with teachers to help them integrate these subjects into their curriculum, and to stimulate student interest in academic subjects.

Presentation subjects are flexible, and include:

Your Wild Neighbors - Raptors

Virginia Owls - Hunters of The Night

Wildlife Habitat and Ecology for Raptors

Falconry - 3,000 Years of Interaction With Raptors

Basic Native Raptor identification

Basic Raptor Biology

REQUESTED EDUCATION Presentation DONATIONS

Large public audiences (1 to 1.5 hour program): $300

Schools (1 hour program): $200

Additional program on the same date: $100

Smaller groups (0.5 to 1 hour program): $100-$150

Amount requested will be determined by the number of people attending and the length of program(s).

All programs will include one or more live raptors, and may include the use of slides or audiovisual material. For substantial trips away from the RCV facilities, reimbursement for the cost of transportation may also be requested.

All donations received by RCV from presentations directly support the feeding, housing, and medical care of the education raptors cared for by RCV.

Kent Knowles, who arranges RCV presentations, will review your request and call you back within 5 business days to discuss availability for your group. Some dates are very popular and we can only do a limited number of programs each day, so submit your form early to reserve your spot! Presentations are scheduled on a first-come first-served basis.